1996 Moody 45 vs 2015 Elan 450 — Comparison
1996 Moody 45
2015 Elan 450
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 1996 Moody 45 | 2015 Elan 450 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Moody | Elan |
| Year | 1996–2002 | 2015–2019 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | UK | Slovenia |
| Designer | Bill Dixon | Rob Humphreys |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.72 m (45.0 ft) | 13.85 m (45.4 ft) |
| LWL | 11.50 m (37.7 ft) | 12.20 m (40.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.22 m (13.8 ft) | 4.28 m (14.0 ft) |
| Draft | 1.80 m (5.9 ft) | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 12,500 kg (27,558 lbs) | 10,800 kg (23,810 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,900 kg (10,803 lbs) | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 85.0 m² (915 ft²) | 95.0 m² (1,023 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 40 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 160 L (42.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 350 L (92.5 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 8 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 1996 Moody 45 and 2015 Elan 450 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 1996 Moody 45 is a 1990s design by Moody from UK, while the 2015 Elan 450 is a modern offering from Elan from Slovenia. The 1996 Moody 45 was penned by Bill Dixon. The 2015 Elan 450 was designed by Rob Humphreys.
In terms of size, the 1996 Moody 45 measures 13.72m (45.0ft) overall with a beam of 4.22m, compared to the 2015 Elan 450 at 13.85m (45.4ft) with a 4.28m beam. The 2015 Elan 450 is 0.13m longer than the 1996 Moody 45. The 1996 Moody 45 displaces approximately 16% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 1996 Moody 45 has moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising with an SA/D ratio of 16.03 and 85.0 m² of sail area. The 2015 Elan 450, with an SA/D of 19.75 and 95.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2015 Elan 450 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 1996 Moody 45 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 19.1) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.73). The 2015 Elan 450 has a comfort ratio of 14.8 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 39.2% for the 1996 Moody 45 and 32.4% for the 2015 Elan 450, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 1996 Moody 45 provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 450L of water capacity and 250L of fuel. The 2015 Elan 450 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 350L water and 160L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1996 Moody 45 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The 2015 Elan 450 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: Both boats provide similar accommodation, making either a viable choice for living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.